In my Keltec KS7 review, I mentioned that I wish someone would make an M-LOK side saddle I could attach to the shotgun. There isn’t a lot of room on the gun for accessories. It’s only 26.1 inches long, and there simply isn’t enough real estate to place even a Velcro side saddle in an ergonomic fashion.
That weird carry handle, however, offers a few M-LOK slots for various accessories. In my mind, an M-LOK side saddle placed on the carry handle would be perfect.
M-LOK Side Saddle How-To
Placing an M-LOK side saddle anywhere else would get in the way of the pump action or would be placed in such a way as to make it difficult to reach. The carry handle, though, offers a non-moving mounting base for adding accessories. Since I couldn’t find one in the aftermarket, I made one for about $20. Here is what you’ll need.
- Dremel, drill, or hand file
- ATI Shotshell Holder
- M-LOK bolts and mounts
- 10 minutes of time
The ATI Shotshell holder looks to be designed to fit an ATI stock. It holds five 12 gauge shells and runs a little under $20. This shotshell holder has six holes that allow it to attach to the ATI stock. These served as perfect pilot holes for my M-LOK bolts.
I used M-LOK bolts from a SIG TREAD kit but you can get them from lots of sellers. These screws fit perfectly into the pilot holes in the ATI shotshell holder. The only problem was the heads of the screws were too big and didn’t fit deeply enough to accommodate the shells.
To remedy this, I used a Dremel tool to shave off some material around the holes. You could use a drill or a hand file to do the same. Mine was quick and rough, but it worked. The material is softer than a Poly 80% lower. so it cuts easily.
I didn’t widen the holes, but I widened the area around them to allow the wider screw head to sit deeply enough to allow shells to fully insert into the side saddle.
I trimmed the top three holes and ensured my shells fit without a fight. I didn’t want the heads of the bolts to press into the shells and deform them. Once the shells squeezed in and out without difficulty, I found the deeper holes to be satisfactory.
Once that was done, I had my M-LOK sidesaddle and attached it with ease to my KS7’s carry handle.
Professional Grade?
Admittedly, the ATI Shotshell holder isn’t a Mesa Tactical or Aridus Industries option. It’s cheap and would not be my first choice for a self-defense firearm. However, for this experiment, it works and works well. Luckily, it’s not a portion of the firearm necessary for operation.
In shooting the KS7 with my newly equipped M-LOK side saddle, I didn’t find any immediate issues. Buck and bird were fired from the gun, and the shells in the holder never slipped or moved around under recoil. Time will tell, but for less than $20, free two-day shipping, and a micro-donation with every purchase to GOA, I’m satisfied.
Thinking Out Loud
The KS7 has enough M-LOK slots to mount a side saddle on either side should you desire to. I have a cheap Crimson Trace light mounted on mine. On the KS7 there are some slots behind the pump. They offer you limited room, but if you were to cut the ATI Shotshell holder into two sections, they could be mounted in these locations. I haven’t experimented with either idea, but I can see the possibilities.
I might try to hack up a better quality shell holder and convert it into a more durable M-LOK side saddle, but I have to decide if I want to lay out sixty bucks on something I’m going to hack up that might or might not work. Or Mesa could just make an M-LOK side saddle for me.
I personally think that if you want extra ammo close at hand, I myself would use a bandolier,
I see no reason to clutter up the sight picture with that shell holder in the way, plus the guns going to buck up & I can’t see the shell’s riding on the end of the barrel without flying out under heavy loads. My K S G has a fabric one on the stock opposite my cheek, it don’t get in the way & stays flat if not being used.
Just my opinion though, different strokes for different folks…
I remedied this problem by owning a KSG
A post in search of any reason. Had 2 KelTec’s. I was underwhelmed by their QC…if I want a 7shot shottie I’ll grab a Maverick88. I do want a to “maybe” shoot a bullpup by KelTec.
My solution is a Kalashnikov Komrad with an assortment of magazine capacities, including 25 round drums……..and, multiple Mossberg Shockwave 590Ms with 5, 10, 15, 20 round mags with different loads. Problem solved. No cutting. Easy peazy.
If you’re worried about quick reloads, use a rifle. Among other reasons to do so. No need for redneck engineering.
Compactness and light weight is the reason for being for this shotgun. The only thing I added was a recoil pad, a sling, and a small light red dot (by removing the handle and putting on the KSG rail) because my eyes are bad and getting worse.
Naysayers abound.
Looks like a very reasonable diy modification to me; in fact, you definitely should have one on each side. The KS7 is the ugliest excuse for a firearm I’ve ever seen, and this won’t make it any uglier (nothing could), but it might make it handier, or at least a little more fun…and if it does, then that’s a win.
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as luck would have it my shotgun shell front alignment beads obscured the fleeting Pintail
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